The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-30
BEASLEY'S DETERMINA. TON.
How Two Men Caught Fish at Famous Resort--A Grief-Stricken Woman and a Man Who Played Cro- quet--The Genuineness of an African Proved Beyond
 the Shadow of
 Doubt.
Editoriat correspondence.

Editorial Correspondence.
 Several days ago, when the weather was so hot that a breath of cool air would have caused sensation, I went to a northern summer resort, where, the guide book declared, black bass and pickerel struck, like rattle snake in August, at everything that came along. The branches of the trees, stirred by the hot air blowing across the baked prairie, moaned for water, and the corn blades, twisted in seeming anguish, whispered in hoarse and husky despair. The wild flow CTS were dead, but the poison vine was fresh and vigorous. Colonel Feb Beasley. who suffered somewhat in recent wheat speculation, and who, in consequence, was in much need of rest, accompanied me. The country which we visited is rich in its possession of lakes, gently sunk into the landscape like dimples; and each lake has its special advocate, who boldly pro- claims it's beauties and its superiority as fishing resort. Upon getting of the train at a station where the ther- mometer proclaimed one hundred and four degrees in the shade, we were as- sailed by small army of advocates.
 "Gentlemen," yelled one fellow, "don't listen to them yaps. l know where you want to go. You want to go over to Coon lake. Finest place to fish in the world"
 "You don't want to go there," cried number two. "There hasn't been fish caught out of that lake in six months. You want to go to Mink lake. Best place in the world. Take you over for fifty cents. Have to get in big boat over there. Fish jump in and swamp small boat"
 If you want to catch fish" re- marked number three. as he bit off chew of tobacco, "you want to go over to 'Possum lake. It is with out question the best place in this part of the country. President Cleve- land said the other day that if he had time he would live there. Tell you what's a fact, was in boat out on the lake the other day and reached out to wash my hands, and what do you think ?"
 "I think" replied Beasley, glancing at the fellows hands, "that you didn't use any soap"
 "Oh, come off now, cap'n. This is no time for jokin'. Wy, sir, just as I dipped my hand in the water, bass struck me. They are the gamest fish ever saw. Take you right over for fifty cents."
 "We prefer walking" said Beasley. "Now which is the best lake?"
 "Oh, if you are goin' to walk" re- piled number three, "they are all alike an it don't make no difference which one you go to-"
 We went to hotel to get a check for a boat. Miserable people sat under the trees in the yard, perspir- ing and flaming themselves. Many of them had come from the south where the summers are pleasant. While we stood waiting for the man who issued the boat checks, noticed pale, grief stricken woman sitting in 8 rocking chair holding little child on pillow. looked at the child's face and turned away with shudder. It brought up an awful memory. The woman addressed me:
 twill you please tell my husband to cone here?" she said. "That is he over wonder playing croquet with those ladies'"
 hurried to the man and told him. He looked at ne as though I was in- terfering with his affairs, and said {: "Tell her I'll be there pretty soon."
 He came while we were still wait ing for the check man. "What do you want9" he asked.
 "Oh, Phillip" she replied with a sob, "I wish you would look at the baby and tell me what you think of him." s
 q guess he's all right" he replied.
 "He seems to be growing worse. The doctor says-"g 494 s@gH
 "The doctor doesn't know. Doctors don't understand babies. Be there in minute, ? he yelled, turniA1 and way ing his hat at the young &isf sAashilyl dressed women with whom he had been playing. aYou Iansn't worry, Louise,s he said, addressing his wife